East and West hope to qualify for regionals

Jan. 23, 2014 at 9:04 p.m.Updated Jan. 22, 2014 at 7:23 p.m.

Victoria West junior Jasmene Porter grabs freshman Ashlie Robinson's leg as they learn how to evade the move during a practice at the VISD District Events Center.
Angeli Wright
for The Victoria Advocate

DISTRICT 15-4A WRESTLING MEET

• WHERE: VISD District Events Center, 1110 Sam Houston Drive

• WHEN: 9 a.m. Saturday

Other teams participating:

Beeville

San Antonio Highlands

Brooks Academy

Clemens

Victoria East

Victoria West

John Garcia didn't like how the team wrestled against Beeville on Tuesday.

"Everyone was a little timid," said the Victoria West junior. "I think in district, it will be different."

Garcia along with the Victoria East and West wrestling team will compete in Saturday's district tournament.

In his third season on the team, Garcia has seen the team develop and get better. With the season coming to an end, Garcia believes the team is able to finish well.

Saturday's tournament will determine who qualifies for the regional tournament.

"Most of the people coming back - they've got experience," said Garcia, who will compete in the 120-pound division. "Now, they have experience with coach (Kerry Iannazzo); they'll listen better."

The wrestling team finished second to Beeville in last season's district tournament.

VISD wrestling coach Iannazzo explained the team has competed in tournaments around the state to get prepared for Saturday.

"I honestly feel our girls are wrestling the best they've ever wrestled in the last two years I've been here," Iannazzo said.

Youth could hurt the East and West team as they lack experience, he said.

"Districts are wide open for the guys," Iannazzo said. "If everybody steps up and wrestles well, we've got a shot at winning it. If we don't, we don't. I think it's going to go down to the last few matches."

Garcia, who has a record of 34-8, believes the team has learned from its mistakes by participating in other tournaments.

Competing against Beeville Tuesday may have helped the team prepare for Saturday.

"I feel like if everybody listens and goes out there to be aggressive, we'll do pretty good," Garcia said. "To win it all, it's going to take perfection. It's going to take everybody to just go out there and wrestle smart and wrestle hard."